Improvement in steam-boiler attachments



3`Sheetsl-Sheet1. N. WIARD.

Steam-Boiler Attachments. N70 157,05]l Patented Nov. 17,1874.

3 Sheets--Sheet 2,.

N. WIABD.

Steam-Boiler*` Attachments.

' Patented Nov. 17,1874.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NORMAN WIABD, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

lMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-BOILER ATTACHMENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 157,051, dated November17, 1874; application tiled November 2, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NORMAN WIARD, of Washington, in the District ofColumbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSteam-Boiler Attachments, of which the following is a specification:

My invention has for its object the equalization of the temperature ofthe ditt'erent parts of steam-boilers, in order to prevent strains,ruptures, and explosions, and regulate, automatically, the requiredsuperheating of the steam above the point of saturation, and maintainsuch temperature uniformly.

The practice of superheating steam, except to a few degrees abovesaturation, at which point the steam is thoroughly dried and in bestcondition for economical use, is dangerous and unnecessary. There arebut few boilers, as at present constructed, that do not allow the steamto become highly heated, especially when no steam is being drawn oftwhen the engine is stopped. In saturated Steam the temperaturecorresponds uniformly with the pressure; but withsuperheated steam thetemperature is always in excess of the pressure. The heated steam, likehot air and other iiuids, has a tendency to seek the highest part of theboiler; therefore, while the lower part of the boiler, iilled withWater, is at the normal temperature, the upper part or steam-space downto and in immediate contact with the water-line, is heated to a highertemperature by contact with the superheated steam. This unequal heating,which causes unequal expansion and tension in the boiler, is believed tobe the cause of many explosions, and the strains and ruptures whichinjure and ultimately destroy the boiler.

My invention, therefore, relates to certain devices, hereinafterdescribed, by which the steam is prevented from becoming unduly heated,and restored to the condition of saturated steam automatically, withoutattention from the person in charge. This is accomplished by taking aquantity of water at intervals from the lowest part of the boiler, Whereit is least heated, and, carrying it up into the steam-space, eitherdischarging it directly into the steam-space from time to time, orretaining it above the water-line in a suitable chamber, so that theheat from the steam will be transferred to the water, and the waterafterward discharged into the boiler below the water-line. The first ofthese methods is preferable when saturated steam is required; but whenany degree of superheating is desired, it may be more convenientlyaccomplished by the latter method.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a boiler withmy improvements attached. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation with aportion of the boiler removed, showing the interior. Fig. 3 shows a sideview of the water-chamber, and Fig..4 a vertical and horizontal sectionof the same. Fig. 5 represents a top view; and Fig. o', a verticalsection of the valve-box, connected to the pipe leading from the lowerpart of the boiler to the water chamber. Fig. 7 is a vertical section,and Fig. 8 a side view, of the circulating valve and chamber in thepipes.

A represents an ordinary tubular boiler, with steam-space, and providedwith steamdome, as usual. B represents a cylinder or water-chamber,extending through the top of the boiler into the steam-space, andprovided on its upper end with a box or casing, B. Within said cylinderor chamber is a lioat, O, bored vertically through the center, throughwhich bore extends a spiral spring, D, secured at a point near the topof the cylinder, and at its bottom to the float. The oat is suspended bya spring, as illustrated in Fig. 4, so as to just take its weight whensurrounded by either steam or air. WVhen surrounded by water, theextension of said spring is reduced in proportion to the difference ot'the specific gravity between the water and float, thereby causing thedoat to rise and open the valve c, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The tloatC is attached to a lever, E, by means of a link, E. Said lever ispivoted in the easing B', near the end at which the exhaust-pipe Fenters, and is provided with a valve, e, which falls directly on the endof the said exhaust-pipe F, which extends downward below the boiler, andis provided with a valve-seat. G represents a pipe extending from thelower part of the boiler upward to a valve-box, G', which connects saidpipe with the pipe G which passes upward above the boiler and down intothe cylinder B, terminating near its bottom. From the valve-box G"' anexhaust-pipe, H, extends downward under the boiler. The valve-box isprovided with spring valves or cocks g h and a stop-valve, t', as shownparticularly in Fig. 6, by means of which the communication between thepipe G and G' may be cut off when desired, and the communication betweenpipes G" and H established. I represents a circulating-pipe extendingthrough the steamspace of the boiler, and communicating at its ends withthe cylinder B at its upper and lower parts. Said pipe is provided withan opening, 7c, over which is seated a valve, 7c', secured upon the endof a balanced lever, L, attached to said pipe, as shown particularly inFigs. 7 and 8. M represents a lever, connected by means of a link to alever, N, attached to a shaft, a, extending into the casing B'immediately below the lever E. To this shaft is secured a forked lever,I), arranged to operate the lever E in either direction, at the will ofthe engineer, by means of lever M and N, as will be readily understood.

rlhe operation of my apparatus issas follows: The first action of anypressure of steam will nearly lill the chamber B with water from thelower part of the boiler through pipes G and G', raising the iioat untilthe exhaustvalve on the end of lever E closes the eX- haust-pipe. As thechamber B lls, the circula ting-pipe I also becomes lled with the water.NVhile the chamber B is filling the water attains a great momentum,which creates sufficient pressure to open valve K' and throw a quantityof water into the boiler. This will occur whenever the chamber B islled, causing a circulation throughout the water in the boiler, andtending to equalize the temperature. Vhen the force acquired bythemomentum of the water is expended the valve K' drops and shutscommunication between pipe I and the boiler. Vhile in this condition,should the steam in the steam-space become superheated, such heat willbe immediately transferred by the circulating-tubes to the chamber B,until the pressure amounts to sufficient to throw the water back intothe boiler through opening 7c in valve-case K, by

forcing open the valve K', the valve i in ing G' acting as acheck-valve. When said chamber is empty the ioat C falls, opening theend of exhaust-pipe H, relieving the pressure in chamber B. Water fromthe lower part of the boiler will be immediately thrown into chamber B,and through the circulating-pipes I I, raising the ioat C to operate thelever, thereby closing the valve e, thus automatically equalizing the`temperature throughout.

The above operation may be made to take place at the will of theengineer by means of the levers M and N, which operate the lever E, aswill be readily understood. The sediment which may collect, having atendency to fall to the lower part of the boiler, will be carried overfrom time to time by the water into the chamber B, from which it may bedischarged when desired, through the exhaustpipe H and pipe G',byysimply opening conimunication between the saine.

What I claim is- 1. The combination of a valve-box, G', springvalves gIL, stop-valve i, and pipe G G", valvebox G"', constructed substantiallyas shown and described.

2. The combination of a circulating-valve chamber, K, and Weighted valveK' with the circulating-pipe I and water-chamber B, all constructedsubstantially as and for the purpose described.

3. rIhe combination, with pipes G G" and valve-box G"', valves g It, andits operatinglever, of the exhaust-pipe H, for the purpose of removingsediment, substantially as described.

4. The combination, witha steam-boiler, of a water-chamber, B, casingB', oat G, spring D, circulating-pipe I, circulating-valve K', pipes GG", and valve-box G', all constructed and arranged for operationsubstantially as shown and specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

NORMAN WIARD. Witnesses:

ALBERT 1I. NoRRIs, J AMns L. Nonrus.

